laubach



w. H. LAUBACH.

Vapor Bukner. No. 27,190. Patented Feb. 14, 1860.

Wi'lnessas N. PETERS, Phnbumo n har. Washington, 0.0.

is a sectional view of Fig. 1, on the line 1, 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

WM. H. LAUBACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND D. C. ENOS, OF SAME PLACE.

USE OF HYDROCARBOlI-VAPOR FOR ILLUMINATION.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. LAU- BACH, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improved Mode of Illuminating Dwellings, &c., by Hydrocarbon-Vapor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in forcing into and through the distributing pipes communicating with the burners, hydrocarbon vapor at such high temperature that no condensation of vapor can take place in said pipes, which are so arranged that no closing of the burners can obstruct the free circulation of the heated vapor throughout every portion of the pipes as fully described hereafter.

In order to enable others to practice my invention I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I carry it into effect.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure l is a view of the interior of a building illustrating my improved mode of illuminating by hydrocarbon vapor. Fig. 2

A is a casing containing a drum similar to that used in ordinary gas meters, the spindle of the drum projecting through the end of the casing, where it receives a pinion gearing into a wheel C, the latter being driven by a weight, spring, or other convenient power. The casing A communicates with an adjacent casing D, which contains the hydrocarbon fiuid, and which has a branch at for receiving the end of the pipe (Z, through which the vapor is distributed throughout the building. The casing A has also a branch 6 to which is connected a pipe f communicating with the heater E, to which is connected another pipe h, communicating with a chamber 1' situated above the regulator G. The latter consists of a stationary chamber in which is an inverted cup H, having a pointed projection adapted to an orifice in the underside of the chamber 71, and thus serving the purpose of a valve. The chamber of the regulator G has an inlet and outlet opening, the former 27,190, dated February 14, 1860.

communicating with the termination of thedistributing pipe (Z, and the latter with the pipe 70 and chamber 2'.

It should be understood that there is on the under side of the inverted cup H, a valve adapted to the outlet opening for a purpose which will appear hereafter.

The above described parts may be placed in the cellar or other convenient part of the building to be illuminated.

The distributing pipe d, as arranged in the building illustrated in Fig. 1, ascends to the ceiling of the lower story, passes along the same, and down the wall to the point we where a bracket with a burner is secured. Itis bent at this point and continued upward along the wall, then along the ceiling of the second story, down the partition wall I, through the latter at a point where two burners are situated, into the next chamber, upward again to the ceiling, along the latter, down the wall J to the point 92- where another burner is situated, and where the pipe is bent and again ascends to the ceiling of the lower story, passes along the latter down to the partition wall and thence along the floor to the inlet of the regulator G.

It will be observed that the distributing pipe is arranged throughout the building in a manner differing from that adopted in arranging ordinary gas pipes. For instance in order to reach the point m, where a bracket with a burner is attached, and where a light is required the pipe is carried down from the ceiling to this point and up again to the other portions of the building whereas a single pipe only, connected with the pipe under the ceiling would be used for ordinary gas. The object of this passage for the vapor in the distributing pipe, instead of terminating abruptly at the point m, is in order that the vapor may circulate freely through every portion of the pipe whether the burners are ignited or not.

The heater E as shown in the drawing consists of an ordinary stove, above which is placed the air vessel g communicating wit-h the pipes h and f.

In preparing the above described appara-' tus for use, the hydrocarbon liquid is poured through the branch 7 into the casing D until the latter is about two thirds full. The opening of the branch 1 is then closed, the

fuel in the heater ignited, and a slow rotary motion is imparted to the drum within the casing A.

The revolving drum causes the heated contents of the vessel q which are composed of hydrocarbon mixed with air or air alone as set forth hereafter to rush into the casing A, from whence they are forced by the action of the drum into the casing D, through the hydrocarbon liquid, in which they become saturated, and pass off as a flammable gas into the distributing pipe.

In order to insure the desired circulation through the distributing pipe, such of this gas as is not consumed at the burners passes into the regulator G, thence into the heater, from whence it passes into the casing A, thence into the casing D and into the distributing pipe, so that when a comparatively small consumption of gas at the burners is required, the supply being always the same, the excess of gas after circulating through the distributing pipe, will act against the under side of the cup H, and raising the lat ter will close or nearly close the opening in the chamber 2' by the valve j, thus allowing the gas to pass the lower valve through the pipe is into the chamber 2' and thence through the pipe is into the air chamber 9 of the heater from whence it passes to the casing A as above described.

Should the greater portion of the supply of gas in the distributing pipes be consumed, the pressure under the inverted cup II will be diminished, the valve j consequently leaving its seat, and allowing the air to enter the chamber 2' and to pass thence into the air vessel Q preparatory to being converted into gas by the means above described. At the same time the lower valve is partially open for the escape of the superfluous gas.

The valve 7' and its seat, as well as the valve under the cup and its seat, are so adjusted that when the latter is closed the former is full open and vice versa, so that whatever excess of gas there may be, the lower valve is always sufficiently open to allow that gas to escape to the heater, and the upper valvesufliciently open to allow the proper amount of air to enter the heater, preparatory to being formed into gas sulficient to supply the deficiency consumed. By this arrangement an equal pressure is constantly maintained in the distributing plpe.

In order that the air may act as a vehicle for taking up the hydrocarbon vapor preparatory to the latter being used as a gas for illuminating purposes, it is necessary that it should be heated to about 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit, hence the use of the heater E. It is also necessary that this heat should be maintained throughout the distributing pipe, hence the peculiar arrangement of the pipe, through every portion of which a constant circulation is maintained.

It should be understood that the heat of the vapor, in the first instance is greater than that absolutely required, so that as it passes through the pipe, it may retain the degree of heat, necessary to prevent its condensation.

It will be evident that the regulator, heater, and vaporizing apparatus, may be constructed and arranged in a different manner to that described without any alteration in the result. The arrangement of the distributing pipe must be varied according to the position of the burner, within the building in which it is used; the same principle however, of so disposing of the pipe that the vapor shall circulate throughout every part must be maintained. I therefore do not confine myself to any particular device for heating the air or vapor, or to any precise form and construction of the vaporizer and regulator; but

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

Forcing into and through the distributing pipes, hydro-carbon vapor at such a high temperature that no condensation of the vapor can take place in the said pipes, when the latter are so arranged that no closing of the burners can obstruct the free circulation of the heated vapor throughout every portion of the said distributing pipes as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. H. LAUBACH.

WVitnesses HENRY HowsoN, CHAS. HowsoN. 

